Station-indicator



N0. 610,844. Patented Sept. I3, i898.

E. c. cnossMA'N. STATloN INDICATOR.-

(Application filed May 20, 1897.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I,

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STATION INDICATOR.

(Application med may 2o, 1897.)

(No-Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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EDUARD CYRUS CROSSMAN, OF ALLGIIENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

STATION-INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 610,844, datedSeptember 13, 1898.

Application iiled May 20, 1897. Serial No. 637,336. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom t Nutr] concern.-

Be it known that I, EDUARD CYRUs Cnoss- MAN, of Allegheny, in the countyof Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Street-Indicators; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same. 1

This invention relates to improvements in street-indicators forrailway-c`ars or other analogous purposes, the object of the same be-Aing to provide a device of this character that is comparatively simpleand cheap in construction and also possesses the additional advantagesof being readily and conveniently operated tobring the names of thestreets in proper alinement with the sight-opening, in cluding anarrangement for more eifectually displaying the letters at night, theoperation of the device in bringing the names in position beingcontrolled by a pull-cord in the saine manner as a fare-register.

To these ends and to such others as the invention may pertain the sameconsists in the employment of an inclosing case, rolls mounted thereinand carrying a strip extending from one to the other and perforated atits edges, intermediate cog-Wheels engaging the perforations in thestrip, and means for operating the cog-Wheels to control the movement ofthe strip with respect to the sight-opening in the casing. l

The invention also contemplates an arrangement for more eectuallydisplaying the letters at night.

In the following specification I have entered into a detail descriptionof the parts which constitute the invention, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings and to numerals thereon, which designate thedifferent parts, and what I consider to be the novel features ofconstruction are specifically set forth in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this speciication, Figure l is aperspective view of the the street-indicator constructed in accordancewith my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation with a part of theinclosing casf ing removed to show the mechanism therein. Fig. 3 is afront elevation with the front of the casing removed and a part of thestrip broken away to show the brake or friction device, and Fig. 4 is adetail view of the device Which is used for moving the pawls out ofoperative position in changing the direction of rotation of thedriving-shaft. Fig. 5 is a detail View of the brake-wheel. Fig. 6 is adetail View showing the double ratchet- Wheel hereinafter referred to.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, l designates the in'closing case,which is made up in any suitable design or coniguration, the objectofthe same being to inclose the mechanical parts of the device, thefront wall of the casing having a horizontal slot or sightopening 2,through which the names of the streets are displayed. Within thisinclosing case and journaled within the side pieces 3 and 4L thereof arerollers 5 and 6, located a suitable distance above and below thesightopening 2, and around these rollers is wound a strip or band 7,which contains the names of streets crossed by the line of cars or othervehicles on which the indicator is used and extends from one of therolls to the other. At each edge of this strip or band 7 are openings S,spaced a distance apart corresponding with the teeth 9 ofsprocket-wheels 10 and ll, around which the strip 7 runs, said Wheelsbeing mounted upon a transverse shaft l2, journaled in the side piecesof the inclosing case. The sprocket-Wheels are located between the rollsand are so disposed with respect to the inclosing case that they act tobring the intermediate portions of the strip between the said rollsclose to the front of the casing at the sight-opening therein, and thestrip being moved by means of these sprocket-wheels is preferably madeof thin ,Sheet metal which is pliable. The sheet metal is also employedbecause of its strength and durability, as Well as possessing theadditional advantage of not being likely to stretch. In order to keepthe sheet wound tightly upon the rolls as they are fed from one to theother, the shafts upon which the said rolls are mounted are turnedagainst `the action of the sprocketwheels by ineansof coil-springs 13,

secured thereto and to the stationary casing at the ends of therespective rolls, the tendency of the springs being neutralized by meansof a friction device or brake Il, consisting of a scalloped wheel 15,fixed on the shaft 12, which is pressed upon by a spring-arm 15, mountedon the inside of the case. The letters or other characters arepreferably cut through the metal strip or sheet 7 anda White or coloredtransparent backing is attached to said sheet, showing through thespaces which are cut out to represent the letters or other characters.This manner of forming the letters upon the strip provides fordisplaying them at, night by the use of a small electric light placedwithin the inclosing case in the rear of the strip. The stri p is movedto bring the names thereon in line with the sight-opening by means of apawl-and-ratchet mechanism. To this end a double ratchet-Wheel 16v isfixed upon one end of the shaft 12, the said ratchet-Wheel having twosets of teeth pitched in opposite directions and located at oppositesides of a central flange 17 extending therefrom, said ratchet-teethengaging independent pawls 18 and 19, carried by levers .2O 20,fulcrumed upon the shaft to which the ratchetwheel is attached. The pawl19 engages the upper part of the ratchet-wheel while the pawl 18 engagesthe lower part thereof, the last-mentioned pawl having a weighted end 2lto insure its proper. engagement 'with the teeth. The pawls are operatedfrom a suitably-supported lever 22, which is fulcrumed in the rear ofthe ratchet-wheel and connected at one end to the arms 2O byconnecting-rods 23 and 24, while to the other end of the saidoperating-lever is attached a pull-cord 25, which may extend to anyconvenient point for manipulation. The operating-lever 22 is providedwith a counterbalancing-weight 26, which brings it to a normal position,and the throw of said lever is limited, so as to provide for a properturning of the shaft 12. A bracket 27 supports this operating-lever andis provided with a stop 28, that limits the throw of the same. It willbe apparent that should the operating-lever be thrown without someprovision for holding one of the pawls out of engagement with theratchet-wheel said pawls would act against each other and prevent theturning of the said wheel. For

lthe purpose of moving the parts out of an operative position I haveprovided a device which consists of an arm 29, fulcrumed upon thebracket 27 and shaped to present curved portions 30 and 3l, located onopposite sides of the ratchet-wheel, the said portions being broughttogether in front of the ratchet-wheel and joined to an arm 32,whichextends through an S-shaped slot 33 in the front of the inclosing caseand is provided with a knob 34. This arm is manipulated to move one orthe other pawl out of engagement with the ratchetwheel to control therotation of the main driving-shaft, which carries the sprocketwheels,and by providing the S-shaped slot the arm will be held in an adjustedposition.

From the foregoing description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, the construction and operation of my improved street-indicatorwill be readily apparent, for

by the operation of the lever 22, either by the pull-cord 25 or otherdevice, the pawl which is in engagement with the ratchet-wheel will'ment with the sight-opening, the said leverl being operated for eachstreet or station. The springs which are attached to the roller-shaftsact to wind the strip or band tightly thereon, the tension of the saidsprings when tightly wound by the unwinding of the strip being offset bythe brake or friction shoe which engages the main shaft. By providingthe strip with the openings which are engaged by the sprocket-wheels andby turning the sprocketwheels, as here'inbefore described, a positiveand regular movement is imparted to the strip or indicating-band, so asyto bring each street or name in proper alinement with the sightopening.It will be understood t-hat upon the return trip of the car thereversing arm or lever is manipulated to throw the other pawl inengagement with the ratchet-wheel, and thereby reverse the winding ofthe indicating-band. Y

Though I have described the invention as being applied to a railway-car,it is apparent that its application need not be limited to thisparticular use, for it could be located in any other traveling vehicle.In order to plainly display the letters at night, I propose to inclose asmall electric lamp or other light IOO within the inclosing case, and byproviding y the said indicating-band with a colored transparent sheetlocated in the rear of the same the effectiveness of the device will beincreased.

I also contemplate providing the device with an alarm attachmentactuated by the operating-lever. To this end a cup-shaped bell 37 isattached behind the inclosing case and the counterbalancing end of theoperating-lever extended, as shown, to form a clapper 38, which strikesthe bell at each movement of the lever, attracting attention to thedevice.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a street-indicator, the combination with an inclosing case havinga sight-opening therein, of upper and lower spring-rollers, anindicating-band wound about the rollers and extending from one to theother and provided with perforations or openings adjacent to its edges,sprocket-wheels arranged in the ends of the case between the upper andlower rollers, a shaft upon which said sprocket-wheels are keyed,closely-arranged ratchet-wheels on the said shaft having their teethpitched in opposite directions, levers mounted upon said shaft andcarrying pawls engaging the said ratchet-wheels, a weighted-lever sup-IIO -weighted lever and an arm mounted on the support of the saidweighted lever and having curved portions in advance thereof, and

a front arm in connection with said curved portions projecting through aslot in the case, substantially as described. I

2. In a street-indicator, the combination with an inclosing case havinga sight-opening therein, of spring-rollers mounted within the case andspring-actuated in opposite directions, an indicating band or striphaving its opposite ends connected with the respective spring-rollers,said indicating-band having perforations adjacent to its edges, a shafteX- tending longitudinally of the case between the rollers,sprocket-Wheels mounted on the said shaft adjacent to its opposite endsand adapted to engage the perforations in the indicating-band,closely-arranged ratchet-wheels near one of the sprocket-wheels andhaving their teeth pitched in opposite directions, a pair of leversmounted on the said shaft and carrying pawls adapted to engage the saidratchet-Wheels, a rear weighted operatinglever having a pull-cordattached to the lower end thereof, and rods connected to the upper endof said weighted lever and to the separate levers carrying the pawls,substantially as described.

3. In a street-indicator, the combination with-an inclosing case havinga sight-openin g therein, of spring-rollers located within the upper andlower portions of the said case, and spring-actuated in oppositedirections,a shaft extending from end to end of the case intermediate ofthe said rollers and having thereon opposite sprocket-Wheels, anindicating bandor strip having perforations adjacent to the edge thereofand engaging the said sprocket- Wheels, a scalloped Wheel mounted on theshaft adjacent to one of the sprocket-wheels and having a spring-armengaging the saine,

a pair of ratchet-wheels closely arranged near one of thesprocket-wheels and having their teeth pitched in opposite directions, apair of levers mounted on the said shaft, each carrying a pawl to engageone of the sprocketwheels, a weighted operating-lever in rear of theratchet-wheels having a pull-cord attached to the lower portion thereofand adapted to be limited in its required movement and also to operate agong or alarm, connections between the upper end of the operating-leverand the said levers carrying the pawls, and an arm pivotally connectedto the support of the operating-lever having curved portions, and aforwardly-projecting part extending through the casing and adapted torelease the pawls, substantially as described.

4. In a street-indicator, the combination of an inclosing case, upperand lower, oppositely-movable, spring-actuated rollers inclosed by thesaid case, a shaft intermediate of the said rollers havingsprocket-Wheels on opposite portions thereof, an indicating band orstrip engaging the said sprocket-wheels and adapted to be wound upon thesaid rollers, closely-arranged ratchet mechanism having the teeth ofopposite parts thereof pitched in opposite directions, adjacently-situated. independent pawls engaging the said ratchet mechanism,an operating-lever connected to the said pawls and having a pull-cordattached thereto,and an arm pivotally mounted on the support of the saidoperating-lever and having opposite curved port-ions andforwardly-extending ends projecting through the said ease whereby thepawls may be released from the ratchet mechanism, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscrib ing witnesses.

EDUARD CY RII S CROSSMAN.

Witnesses:

MABEL E. GiBsoN, E. W. MOORE.

